Sitting at 1500m on a large south-facing plateau, this Swiss ski resort is made up of the linked villages of Crans and Montana and has been welcoming visitors from around the world for years. Steeped in tradition, Crans is home to the oldest-ever ski run, making it a truly authentic mountain destination. With a glacier reaching up to the resort’s high point, an abundance of activities and lakes, as well as some of the best shopping brands setting up base here, Crans-Montana is a resort that will satisfy all your desires. Staying here means you get all the advantages of a small resort combined with the cultural activities, shopping, gastronomic variety and international events of a big ski town.
Crans-Montana is a winter sports mecca. With 140 KM of pistes to explore, as well as the Plaine Morte glacier, which sits at an altitude of 3,000m and has year-round snow, Crans- Montana ski resort offers a great variety of ski slopes for each level. The ski area offers breathtaking views, as well as plenty of sunshine throughout the entire winter, making it totally unique. And with more than 20 high-altitude restaurants, some of which are run by renowned chefs, there are plenty of opportunities to stop off on a sunny terrace.
The domain is divided into 3 areas: Family, Fun & Glacier-Nature Area. For advanced skiers, the World Cup pistes are challenging and the off-piste skiing is extensive. This is an ideal resort for intermediates, with plenty of wide and long, red and blue runs, as well as being home to the best snow park in French-speaking Switzerland, with its impressive snow pipe.
Crans-Montana benefits from uncrowded pistes that are well-groomed, making it the perfect resort for learning to ski, including three nursery areas. Start on the Severiano Ballesteros golf course or at the Jardin des Neiges in Arnouva; these places offer young skiers and beginners a safe and easy place to learn to ski.
When they are ready to progress, they can head to the Cry d’Er area above Crans, where there are easy blues and drags lifts, ideal for practising their turns. Plus, there is the longer Chetseron run which has a lovely mountain restaurant at the bottom, ideal for a hot chocolate stop.
KEY FACTS
- Altitude: 1,495 M - 3,000 M
- 140 KM of slopes
- Two Villages: Crans and Montana
- 61 Ski Runs: 12% Blue (Easy), 75% Red (Medium), 9% Black (Difficult)
- 2 World Cup ski pistes - Mont Lachaux and Piste Nationale
- 24 Ski Lifts: 8 Gondolas & Cable Cars, 7 Chair Lifts, 9 Drag Lifts & Magic Carpets
- 4 Sledging slopes, 8 Hiking lifts
